Improvement in show-cases



-T-rails of one set ot' partitions. V extend over the greater part ofthe partitions,

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM SHOGKLEY, on ALLERTON, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOW-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,717, dated July 3,1877 applicationfiled April 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SHooKLEY, of Allerton, in the county ofWayne and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Screw-Case, ofwhich the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view, and Figs. 2and 3 vertical,

longitudinal, and transverse sections, respectively, on lines it w and yy, of my improved case or box for holding screws.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention relates to a case or box for storing screws, screw-eyes,or other articles of hardware, of different sizes, to be used in retailhardware stores, for the purpose of pre venting any intermixing ofdifferent sizes of screws, which forms a source of annoyance in thepresent open boxes; and the invention consists of a case having a numberof boxes for the different sizes of screws, each box, except one, beingcovered by a separate sliding lid, that is guided by side grooves alongThe T-rails with the exception of one end tier of boxes, along which thelids slide laterally, so as to remove the lid from any one of the boxesby sliding first the lateral lids, and then those at right angles to theopen box.

In the drawing, A represents the outer case, which is divided by lateraland longitudinal partitions B into any desired number of boxes, ofsuitable sizes, as required for the different sizes of screws or otherarticles of hardware to be stored therein. Each box, with the exceptionof one, is covered with a sliding lid, 0, which is grooved at the sides,

and guided by a tongue, or, running along band of the outer case A, andby T-shaped rails b, secured to the top of one set of partitions runningin one direction. These T- shaped rails b extend from the. tongues a atone side of case A across the partitions to the lids O of the end tierof boxes, leaving a distance between the ends of the T-rails and theopposite tongue at of a size equal to the width of the lids, so that thelids of the end tier of boxes may slide laterally to the guide-rails b,the same being guided by the ends of the T- rails and by tongue a, whichenter end grooves of these lids.

The laterally-sliding lids 0 require no side grooves, as they do notslide along the T- rails.

One of the boxes of the end tier is without lid, which enables theopeningoi' the lid of any other box by first sliding the lower lidslaterally, and then the lids of that tier in which the end box is opentoward the lateral tier of boxes.

Thus, any individual box may be opened necting tier over to the open boxof the lateral tier.

Screws of any desired size may thereby be readily taken out from anybox, and have to be replaced into the same box, as all the rest areclosed, so as to prevent the mixing of the screws, and keep eachsizestrictly separated from the other.

' The case forms a cheap, durable, and convenient storage-receptacle forscrews and similar articles, which, by little practice, may be quicklyhandled for taking out screws without mixing different sizes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. An improved screw-case, in which the compartmentsare severally provided with lids that slide laterally andlongitudinally, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A screw-case having a number of boxes having all lids, except one,which are guided along the side tongues of the case and T- shaped toprails of the partitions, the T-rails being cut out at one end tier toadmit the lat-. f

e'ral sliding ofthe lids of the end tier, and the sliding of the lids ofthe remaining boxes in line therewith over the open box, substantial- 1yas specified.

3. The combination of the laterally-sliding lids of the end tier ofboxes, having end grooves, with the guiding ends of the T-rails arrangedat right angles thereto, and with an end tongue of the case,substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM SHOCKLEY.

Witnesses:

I. S. BIGKNELL, 0. G. SOMERVILL.

